Christmas - Traditional and Non-Traditional
Topic: Seasonal
| Christmas - Traditional and Non-Traditional |
The Guaranty Building for the Guaranty Building and Loan Association, 6331 Hollywood Boulevard, 1923, John C. Austin, architect. Charlie Chaplin and Cecil B. DeMille invested in this building that attracted tenants like gossip columnist Hedda Hopper. Now it is the headquarters of the Church Of Scientology International. Nice Wreath. 
Across the street at Hollywood and Vine, at Iguana Vintage Clothing, an all American Santa - green neon, the flag, the jazzman and the reflection of a palm tree in the glass.
Winter in LA is best thought of as a negative - this, the beach at the end of the north runway at LAX.
Judgmental Birds
Topic: Birds
Maybe Hitchcock was onto something, although the story was from Daphne Du Maurier and the screenplay by Evan Hunter. These birds, at the Playa del Rey lagoon on 12 December, seem to know something. Think of them as a jury. They may not like us at all.
Street Scenes - Hollywood Boulevard
Topic: Social Commentary
| Street Scenes - Hollywood Boulevard |
Hollywood - a sense of the place -
Note:
S. H. Kress Department Store
6608 Hollywood Boulevard
Edward F. Sibbert, architect - 1935
Designed and built as a part of the S. H. Kress retail chain, that didn't work out. In 1947 Frederick Mellinger moved his Frederick’s of Fifth Avenue from New York here. This became the headquarters for Frederick’s of Hollywood - lingerie and such. Mellinger restored the Art Deco architecture, and gave us the first push-up bra, and the first front-snap bra, and all the rest. Frederick’s of Hollywood has since moved to newer digs across the street and a few blocks west. The building is dark now, very dark, and empty. Edward Hopper would like the place now.
Hollywood Detail
Topic: Graphics
This may be emblematic of Hollywood - a detail on the boulevard - 
Hollywood Christmas Images
Topic: Insider Stuff
| Hollywood Christmas Images |
So it's almost Christmas. You want Frank Kapra and E. B. White's cute naïf of a pig and peace and love and all that? It's at Hollywood and Highland - what passes for Times Square out here. "It's a Wonderful Life" - or so they say. Christmas is bit commercial out here, as it is everywhere. We just do it up, Hollywood Style. 
How about the scientologist Santa at the L. Ron Hubbard Center? Imagine Tom Cruise sitting on his lap. What would Tom ask Santa to bring him?
Maybe Santa will stop here, and celebrate the secular side of Christmas.
Oh, have a gay old time.
